Description
These Mitten Cookies are adorable, buttery sugar cookies shaped like mittens and decorated with icing. Perfect for Christmas cookie platters, holiday parties, or a fun winter baking activity with kids! Decorate them with royal icing, sprinkles, or sanding sugar for a festive touch.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- For the Sugar Cookies:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- For the Royal Icing:
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons meringue powder
- 5–6 tablespoons water (adjust for consistency)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Red, blue, white, or other food coloring
- Sprinkles, sanding sugar, or edible glitter (for decoration)
Instructions
- Make the Cookie Dough:
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
- Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract, mixing until combined.
- In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms.
- Chill & Roll Out Dough:
- Shape the dough into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to ¼-inch thickness.
- Cut & Bake:
- Use a mitten-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies.
- Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes, until edges are lightly golden.
- Let cookies cool completely before decorating.
- Make the Royal Icing:
- In a bowl, whisk powdered sugar and meringue powder.
- Add water 1 tablespoon at a time until the icing reaches a piping consistency.
- Divide into bowls, add food coloring, and mix.
- Transfer to piping bags and decorate the cookies with mitten designs.
- Decorate & Enjoy:
- Pipe icing onto cooled cookies and decorate with sprinkles or sanding sugar.
- Let icing set for 2-3 hours before serving or storing.
Notes
- No Meringue Powder? Use 1 egg white in place of it.
- Make-Ahead: Store undecorated cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Decorating Ideas: Use white icing for “knit” patterns or add a cuff with sprinkles!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus chilling)
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert, Holiday Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
- Keywords: Christmas Cookies, Mitten Sugar Cookies, Holiday Baking, Winter Desserts, Decorated Sugar Cookies
- Nutrition (Per Cookie)
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Nutrition
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg